Cut-off valve-gear for engines.



F. K. RITTENHOUSE.

GUT-DFF VALVE GEAR FDR ENGINES.

(Application filed June 12, 1899.)

No. 643,203, Patented Feb. l3, I900.

(Nb Model.)

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FIG,3,

FIG, 5

INVENTOR.

6 WITNESSES, i'

STATES PATENT -OFFICE.

FRANK K. RITTENHOUSE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CUT-OFF VALVE-G EAR FOR ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,203, dated February13, 1900.

Application filed June 12, 1899. Serial No. 720,164. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK K. RITTEN- HOUSE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Cut-OffValve-Gears for Steam-Engines, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings,and the letters of reference thereon,which form a part of thisspecification.

This invention relates to an improvement in that class of cut-offmechanism employed in the construction of Corliss engines, andparticularly in the mechanism shown in Patent No. 505,153, grantedSeptemberlt), 1893; and it consists in the attachment to the bent end ofthe .rods which actuate the steam-inlet valves of springs arranged toserve as cushions against the hubs of the pivoted triparms to which thebent end of said rods are connected. Ileretofore in the use of suchcut-off mechanism the contact of the hollow or curved portion of saidvalve-actuatin g rods against the hubs of said trip-arms causedpounding, and therefore unnecessary noise; and the object of thisinvention is to cushion said parts, and thereby prevent direct pounding,and thus avoid unnecessary noise.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of an engine-oylinder and the cut-01f mechanism thereto attached. Fig. 2 is adetailed side view of one of the steaminlet valve-rods and connectedtrip-arm, showing the application of the cushion-spring to said rod.Fig. 3 is a plan View of the same, also showing a portion of thewrist-plate to which said trip-arm is pivoted. Fig. 4: is across-sectional View of Fig. 2 on line 1 1. Fig. 5 is a detailedperspective of the cushionspring, and Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional viewof Fig. 2 on line 2 2 looking toward the left.

Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

Referring to said drawings, A represents an engine-cylinder havingattached thereto and arranged in conjunction therewith the usualwrist-plate P, eccentric-rod E, steaminlet valve-stems V V, bell-cranksL L, connected with said stems, trip-arms B B, pivotally connected tosaid wrist-plate, rods R R, which are known as the steam-rods, arrangedconnecting said trip-arms with said bell-cranks, dash-pots G G, rods FF, ar-

ranged connecting the said bell-cranks with dashes in said dash-pots,and arms carrying rollers J J, arranged in the path of one branch of thetrip-arms B B and controlled in their position relative to saidtrip-arms by means of governor-rods K K. The ends of rods R R, whichconnect with trip-arms B B, are bent as shown, and in their actuationtheir movement is such as at intervals to fold said rods down upon thehubs of said trip-arms, bringing the hollow of the bend of the rods torest upon said hubs.

The cushion-springs S comprise two parallel curved bars, connected atone end by a hollowed or curved cross portion, and are applied to rods Rby placing their cross connecting portion under the rods adjacent totheir connection with trip arms B, by bringing their parallel bars tocoincide with the opposite lower sides of rods R in such manner thattheir curved portion will be adjacent to the bend of the rods and alittle distance below the hollow of such bend, (see Fig. 2,) and byclamping their extending ends to the sides of the rods by placing themin opposite pockets of clamp-collars O, placed on said rods, and as ameans of preventing said clamp-collars slipping back on said rods setcollars, as shown at D, may be employed. In the actuation of said rodsand trip-arms when they told the springs S will engage against the hubsof the trip-arms, and thus cushion the stroke incidental in suchmovement. Adjustment of said springs is made by moving clamp-collars 0along on rods R, which causes the curved connecting portion of thesprings to move up or down a limited distance on the portion of the rodswhere such cross portions contact, thereby changing the relativeposition of the springs adjacent the bends of the rods to be a less orgreater distance below the hollow of the bends.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. In the herein-described cut-off mechanism for engines, thecombination with the steam-inlet valve-actuating rods, and the attachingcollars G substantially as and for trip-arms connected therewith, of thesprings the purpose specified. 10 attached to said rods and adapted toform a Signed at Chicago, in Cook county, State cushion at the place ofcontact of said rods of Illinois, this 20th day of May, 1899.

5 against the hubs of said trip-arms. FRANK K. RITTENHOUSE.

2. In the herein-described cut-0E mechan- In presence ofism for engines,in COIIlbIIJatIOIIWIth the rods M. F. RITTENHOUSE,

R and arms 13 the springs S and their clampl E. J. OSTRANDER.

